Matsuzaka falls to 0-3 after another bad outing for Mets

ATLANTA – Once again struggling with his pace on the mound, New York Mets starter Daisuke Matsuzaka was roughed up for six runs in three innings in a 13-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Monday.

Matsuzaka, who spent the bulk of the season with the Cleveland Indians’ Triple-A farm team, took his third loss in as many starts since signing with the Mets as a free agent and refused to make excuses for his latest loss.

“The results tell you the whole story,” said Matsuzaka. “There are no excuses. I’ve been playing baseball for a long time and experienced many periods where I have had to be patient but I can’t seem to find a way to get going.

“I just have to keep rolling with the punches. I have to try and do something about it while I am being told I am still allowed to pitch.”

Matsuzaka gave up seven hits and struck out three with two walks. He has a 10.95 ERA.

He said that if the Mets removed him from the rotation, he would “accept” it.

Matsuzaka had an RBI single in the second.

Dodgers 10, Rockies 8

In Denver, Clayton Kershaw surrendered a career-high 11 hits in five shaky innings and got the win and Yasiel Puig scored the go-ahead run in the sixth before leaving with a strained right knee as surging Los Angeles topped Colorado.

In Cincinnati, Choo Shin-soo and Joey Votto homered as the Reds roughed up Adam Wainwright for the second start in a row, leading Mat Latos and Cincinnati over St. Louis in the opener of a four-game series.

In San Diego, Ian Kennedy beat an NL West opponent for the first time in 12 starts this season, pitching the Padres past San Francisco.

Barry Zito (4-11) lost his eighth straight decision, lasting four innings. He has won only once in his last 20 starts.

Marlins 4, Cubs 3

In Chicago, Henderson Alvarez hit his first career home run and pitched six innings before exiting with a hamstring injury as Miami beat the Cubs.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Athletics 4, Rangers 2

In Oakland, Coco Crisp hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the fifth that was confirmed by a video review as the A’s pulled into a first-place tie with Texas atop the AL West.

Tigers 3, Red Sox 0

In Boston, Doug Fister rebounded from a miserable start with seven sharp innings, helping Detroit blank the Red Sox in a matchup of teams with the AL’s best records.

The Tigers won despite missing Miguel Cabrera for the third straight game. He has been sidelined by a strained abdomen, though general manager Dave Dombrowski said the Triple Crown winner has been more hampered by a groin problem.

Orioles 7, Indians 2

In Cleveland, Bud Norris stayed unbeaten as a starter with Baltimore and Nate McLouth homered and had three RBIs to lead the Orioles past the hosts.

Yankees 9, White Sox 1

In New York, Derek Jeter ended an 0-for-14 slump with two hits and two RBIs and Alex Rodriguez reached base twice in an eight-run fourth as the Yankees routed Chicago in a game interrupted for nearly two hours by rain.

New York pinch hitter Ichiro Suzuki flied out to end the eighth. He remained in the game as a defensive replacement in right field.

Royals 3, Mariners 1

In Kansas City, 195-cm left-hander Will Smith had a career-high eight strikeouts in an impressive 4⅓-inning relief appearance, guiding the Royals over Seattle.

Twins 10, Astros 6

In Houston, rookie Chris Colabello homered twice for Minnesota, including a tiebreaking grand slam in the ninth inning.

Angels 11, Rays 2

In Anaheim, Garrett Richards worked around a career-high seven walks over five innings and Erick Aybar drove in four runs as Los Angeles thumped Tampa Bay.

INTERLEAGUE

Blue Jays 4, Diamondbacks 1

In Phoenix, Esmil Rogers pitched 6⅓ innings of one-hit ball and Edwin Encarnacion hit his 35th home run to lead Toronto over Arizona.